Joe Allen: 'Wales missed Gareth Bale, Aaron Ramsey in friendlies'

Joe Allen in action at a Wales training session on March 22, 2016
© Getty Images
Joe Allen admits that Wales missed Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey after they failed to win two international friendlies without them.

Joe Allen has admitted that he and his Wales teammates missed Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey in their recent international friendlies.

The pair were left out of Chris Coleman's squad for matches against Ukraine and Northern Ireland, which ended in a 1-0 defeat and 1-1 draw respectively.

Wales, who will compete in this summer's European Championships in France, have not won a game in their last three.

"Any international team would miss players of that quality," FourFourTwo quotes Allen as saying. "To have the chance to welcome them back into the group is a massive bonus for us. It's going to help bring the real best out of the team.

"Whether it is a friendly or not, the result is important, but it's not the be all and end all at this stage. Teams in the past have flown through friendlies, drubbed teams and then disappointed. So I don't think it's too much we will look at."

Wales have been drawn in a group with England, Russia and Slovakia at Euro 2016.

Wales' midfielder Gareth Bale celebrates his goal during the Euro 2016 qualifying football match between Israel and Wales at the Sammy Ofer Stadium in the Israeli coastal city of Haifa, on March 28, 2015
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